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Exploring zakat assistance and its impact on muallaf in Sabah
Get PDFZakat is one of the key instruments in the Islamic social welfare system. It aims to assist the asnaf, including muallaf (new converts to Islam). The transition of faith for a muallaf is often accompanied by various challenges such as financial strain, family conflict, social isolation, and the need for religious education. Although zakat institutions provide various forms of assistance, the nature and suitability of such aid in addressing the actual needs of muallaf remain under-documented. This study was therefore conducted to explore the types of zakat assistance provided to muallaf, assess their impact on their lives, and identify the challenges faced by zakat institutions in delivering such aid. The study was carried out in a selected district in the state of Sabah using a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with two main groups of informants, zakat officers and muallaf and supported by document analysis. The findings reveal that zakat assistance to muallaf includes oneoff financial aid, periodic financial aid, religious guidance classes, and entrepreneurial support programmes. The financial assistance helps ease the burden of those who have recently embraced Islam, particularly in meeting basic needs, as many still live with non-Muslim family members. Religious guidance classes provide them with the knowledge and confidence to practise Islamic teachings in daily life, while entrepreneurial support enables them to become self-reliant and eventually independent from zakat aid. However, several challenges hinder the delivery of assistance, including incomplete applications due to limited understanding of the required supporting documents, as well as difficulties in accessing facilities such as photocopy machines for those living far from urban areas. In addition, the high volume of applications during certain periods, such as before Hari Raya, often results in delays in approval and disbursement. This study offers a comprehensive account of the forms of zakat assistance provided to muallaf and the challenges faced in its implementation. The findings highlight the need for process improvements and more responsive approaches to strengthen support for this grou
Health and wellness tourism: developing a framework for muslim-friendly spa operations
No full textThe Muslim-friendly spa emerged as an innovative niche sector within the hospitality and tourism industry, distinct from conventional spas due to its adherence to Shari’ah principles. Despite its growing presence, there was a lack of comprehensive guidelines for establishing such spas, as the sector was still in its developmental phase. This study aimed to bridge that gap by crafting a framework for implementing Muslim-friendly spa operations. To achieve these objectives, this study employed Leiper’s Tourism System (1979) to explore the implementation, characteristics, and services that define these establishments, recognizing their appeal as crucial attractions for Muslim tourists. This study selected twelve experienced spa operators from Peninsular Malaysia, with three each from the North, South, East, and Central regions. The selection criteria included Malaysian ownership, over seven years of operation, a diverse range of wellness services, and active online promotion of Muslim-friendly offerings, highlighting their expertise and dynamism. Through indepth interviews, this study gathered rich qualitative data, which was transcribed using NVIVO and analysed by identifying relevant sub-themes. The findings revealed significant issues, including high financial costs, guideline inconsistencies, and difficulties sourcing Halal-certified products. However, the importance of gender-segregated facilities, Shari’ah-compliant operations, and personalized customer consultations was also emphasized. The study produced a detailed framework to guide the implementations of Muslim-friendly spas, offering actionable recommendations for improving operational efficiency and adherence to Islamic principles. It also highlighted the need for consistent regulations and standardized guidelines to address inconsistency across regions and support the sector’s growth. This research provides critical insights for spa operators, policymakers, and stakeholders, contributing to the understanding of the Muslim-friendly spa industry. It also offers opportunities for future studies to examine customer perspectives and economic impacts, enhancing the sector’s role in Islamic tourism and wellness. By addressing key operational issues and proposing practical solutions, the study bridges a critical gap in the literature and supports the sustainable development of the Muslim-friendly spa industry
Effectiveness of detached mindfulness group therapy (DMGT) for married women with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Pakistan
No full textMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a widespread mental health condition that affects married women, particularly in low-resource settings like Pakistan, where access to psychological care remains limited. In Pakistan, married women face significant sociocultural and marital stressors that increase their vulnerability to MDD. Despite this, culturally appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions remain underdeveloped and insufficiently integrated into mental health care. Therefore, the objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of the Detached Mindfulness Group Therapy (DMGT) for married women with MDD in Pakistan. The current study used a mixed-method research design to examine the qualitative feedback of experts, group leaders, and group members about the DMGT module and its quantitative outcomes. This study collected data using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDIII). This study used the Sidek module development model to develop the DMGT module. The present study used a two-group quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of the DMGT's intervention. The purposive sampling method was used to recruit 20 married women (10 = experimental group; 10 = control group) with MDD. The current study used the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the DMGT across pretest, post-test, and follow-up assessments. The results showed that the DMGT module was developed with high reliability and validity. The DMGT significantly reduced the symptoms and severity of MDD among married women in the experimental group. Furthermore, DMGT showed sustained effectiveness at follow-up, confirming its long-term impact. Despite limitations due to its non-randomized design, this study contributes meaningfully by introducing a culturally appropriate psychotherapeutic intervention for married women with MDD in Pakistan. Future research should explore the cross cultural applicability of DMGT interventio
An analysis of the law on illicit enrichment and asset declaration in preventing corruption : The case of Malaysia
Get PDFThe growth of illicit enrichment (IE) crime is a significant challenge in combating corruption. IE is defined as a significant increase in the assets of a public officer that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income. The secretive nature of IE makes it a complicated and argumentative crime. Hence, a well-designed and structured asset declaration (AD) system can serve as a tool to detect public officers’ wealth and effectively prevent IE. The problems addressed in this study are the lack of clarity in Malaysia’s IE law, where the current provision under Section 36 is ineffective in preventing IE, and it does not explicitly define IE as an offence, and there is no specific AD law requiring public officers to disclose their assets. The objectives of this research are to study the effectiveness of Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009, analyse the implementation of AD rules, examine IE legal frameworks from other countries, and propose improvements to Malaysia’s IE law. The researcher employed a doctrinal approach and qualitative research methodology. A semi-structured interview was conducted with expert respondents selected based on their experience with those issues. The scope of the study is limited to the issues of corruption, IE, and asset disclosure among public officers only. A comparison of provisions was also made between the current section 36 and section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance Hong Kong, which has been presented and discussed in detail as a reference for Malaysia. To address the problem, the criminalisation of corruption indicators such as IE is necessary, and Malaysia needs to study and adopt the IE legal framework from Hong Kong. The findings of this study indicate that Malaysia lacks a clear and specific provision on IE, as well as a specific AD law requiring public officers to disclose their assets. In fact, the clandestine nature of illicit enrichment crimes and the ineffectiveness of section 36 have identified several issues, challenges, and weaknesses in the wording, application and implementation of section 36. The proposed recommendations to address the issues suggest implementing the revised version of section 36 and enacting a new provision to mandate AD in Malaysia to fight corruption effectivel
Influence of leadership style on employee safety behaviour among military gunners
No full textGunners in the military play a crucial role in operating artillery systems and safeguarding their units. Air Defence Artillery gunners train extensively to master equipment like the Oerlikon 35mm and Starstreak missiles, engage aerial threats suchas drones and missiles, and coordinate with military units for optimal protection. Their training involves simulations, live-fire exercises, and physical fitness, but it carries safety risks like noise-induced hearing damage, lead exposure, blast overpressure effects, and environmental hazards. These risks are mitigated through safety protocols, protective gear, and effective communication. This study examined the impact of leadership style on safety behaviour in the Malacca Camp, employing surveys and statistical analyses. It revealed strong safety engagement among personnel, with transactional and transformational leadership styles positively influencing safety behaviour, while authoritarian and laissez-faire leadership had minimal impact. Democratic leadership showed no significant link to safety behaviour. Regression analysis identified transactional leadership as the most influential (β = 0.468, p < 0.001), while age-based differences highlighted greater compliance among younger personnel (19–25 years old) compared to older groups (26–41 years). No notable variations were observed across ranks, indicating uniform safety practices within hierarchical levels. These findings underscore leadership's pivotal role in shaping safety culture and advocate for targeted age-specific safety strategies to enhance military standard
Determinants of undergraduate student's willingness to use al-based recruitment : The role of awareness, trust, and perceived fairness
Get PDFThe increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment is transforming how organizations screen and select candidates. As this shift continues, it is important to understand how future job seekers, particularly university students, respond to AI-driven hiring systems. This study examines the effects of awareness of AI, perceived fairness, and trust in AI decision-making on the willingness to use AI-based recruitment systems. The study specifically targets undergraduate students at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). A quantitative approach was used, and data were collected through an online survey. The research framework was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), supported by psychological theories of trust and fairness. Partial Least Squares Structural Equat ion Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze responses from 300 UUM undergraduate students. Findings show that awareness of AI and perceived fairness have significant positive effects on students’ willingness to use AI in recruitment. Although trust in AI was statistically significant, its effect was minimal. This study provides practical insights for employers and AI developers to improve the fairness, transparency, and communication of AI tools used in hiring processe
Robust memory-type control charts for monitoring location parameter under non-normal data
Get PDFControl chart is popularly used to monitor and improve the quality of a process. This statistical tool can be categorized into memoryless and memory-type control charts. An example of memoryless control chart is Shewhart chart which uses the most recent information of samples in a process. Conversely, the memory-type control charts such as cumulative sum (CUSUM) and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) use both past and recent information in the process. Thus, make the charts more sensitive in detecting small to moderate shifts. Recently, the CUSUM and EWMA charts were combined to form mixed EWMA-CUSUM (MEC) and mixed CUSUMEWMA (MCE) charts to further improve small shift detection. However, these MEC and MCE charts are based on mean, thus they rely on the normality assumption. Under non-normality, parameters estimation based on the mean will be perturbed, leading to increased false signal and delayed detection of shifts. To solve this problem and improve the monitoring process, three median-based location estimators (median, modified one step M-estimator (MOM), winsorized MOM (WMOM)) which possess the highest possible breakdown point (50%) were used in the construction of the MEC and MCE charts, yielding six newly robust charts, namely MEC!" , MECMOM, MECWMOM, MCE!" , MCEMOM, and MCEWMOM. Via extensive simulation studies using SAS programming software, the proposed robust charts were tested under several conditions, focusing on g-and-h distributions, sample sizes, design shifts and shift sizes. Optimal parameters for the charts were derived to achieve the pre-determined average run length (ARL) under normality and subsequently, the robustness of the charts were assessed based on the ARL upon departure from the distribution. Validation of the charts’ performance were conducted using water quality and marker band data. From the simulation, the MEC charts based on the MOM and WMOM estimators are the best since the charts have good in-control robustness and fast detection capability. Moreover, the proposed charts have been validated using real data, demonstrating their practical applicability. Both simulation and real data analyses show that the proposed median-based charts outperform the standard charts across various conditions specified in this study. The findings offer practitioners feasible alternative charts for monitoring processes when the underlying data deviate from normality
Pengaruh integriti anggota Polis Diraja Malaysia terhadap budaya organisasi di kontinjen Perak: Tindakan organisasi sebagai moderator
No full textIn order to guarantee the security of the country, the formation of a security force is very necessary to carry out duties, trust and responsibility like the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). The PDRM must shoulder responsibility fairly, justly and decisively to ensure the formation of the life of the community and the country in a state of peace, safety and not be disturbed by unwanted elements. The goal can be achieved by implementing an effective service delivery system and the practice of integrity values in the PDRM team. The importance of integrity to the PDRM can make this country's policing delivery system more efficient and disciplined. Therefore, this study aims to identify the influence of the integrity of PDRM members on the organizational culture in the Perak contingent. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used with the involvement of 700 PDRM members. By using SEM-PLS analysis, there are four main findings for this study, (1) PDRM members take serious steps and will report cases, (2) there is a significant difference in judging a case as serious and reporting a case based on demographics, (3) organizational actions are able to act as moderators and (4) there is only one variable that affects the integrity of PDRM members which is personality. The findings also found that improvement or change is the best method in improving the integrity of PDRM members. By using Theory of Police Organizational Integrity, this study can provide a more comprehensive policy or policy in improving integrity in uniformed forces, especially the PDRM
Multidimensional discourse analysis of Yazidi women's identity in the daily mail and personal narratives: Sensationalisation vs. Self-Representation
Get PDFSpanning from early print journalism to the era of broadcast and digital journalism, sensationalism has consistently emerged as a prevalent technique to attract audiences and shape public perception. Research into sensationalism in media discourse is no longer an intellectual indulgence but an absolute necessity for understanding media power. This research, drawing on sensationalist strategies with respect to the representation of Yazidi women, aims to reflect how specific choices in certain linguistic features of media discourse regarding minorities shape and sometimes distort reality during a conflict. While many of such works have addressed the construction of Yazidi women's identities, few have critically analysed the linguistic subtleties that make up the sensationalism of these constructions in the media. To bridge this gap, the thesis conducts a comprehensive analysis that examines lexical choices, syntactic structures, and thematic prioritisation across both media reports and interview data. Grounded in critical discourse analysis and informed by systemic functional linguistics, postcolonial feminist theory, and narrative and social identity theories, this study allows for in-depth textual and contextual analysis of the linguistic and discursive factors underpinning the sensational quality of both media representations and survivors' narratives. Using NVivo 12, the UAM Corpus Tool, and XML markup, the research employs a corpus-based discourse analysis of news stories from Mail Online (2014-2020) alongside interviews with Yazidi women survivors of the 2014 attack. The analysis drew on the frequency and distribution of referential strategies and transitivity patterns to uncover narrative strategies that help build up the potential for the sensational framing of these women. The findings revealed that media framed Yazidi women as passive victims, reinforcing sensationalist stereotypes. In contrast, interviews highlighted their resilience and agency, exposing a stark disparity between media portrayals and their lived experiences. This research calls for complex tools and methodologies in the field of discourse studies to critically reassess issues associated with how the media shapes society's perspective on conflict-affected minorities. In other words, the findings call for a review of reporting approaches within conflict journalism and the language used in media portrayal
Determinants of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation influencing job satisfaction among employees in manufacturing industry
Get PDFThis research is to investigate the determinants of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation influencing job satisfaction among employees in manufacturing industry. Despite evidence from healthcare and education sectors highlighting the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, there is limited research on their combined effect on job satisfaction in the manufacturing industry, which faces unique challenges such as high turnover, repetitive tasks, and demanding working conditions. Research objective to examine the relationships between key extrinsic factors (compensation, performancebased incentives, and working conditions) and intrinsic factors (employee recognition and empowerment) with job satisfaction among employees in the manufacturing industry. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Model and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory used in this research to examine the relationship between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation to job satisfaction among employees at manufacturing industry. Compensation, performance-based incentive, working conditions, employee recognition and employee empowerment show strong and significant relationships with job satisfaction. This study also used quantitative research approach. This research using probability sampling methods used to get the sample among manufacturing industry employees. The population for this study consists of employees those who working in manufacturing company. Moreover, data for this study were obtained by distributing google form questionnaire to sample size of 103 employees. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 was used to analyse the data. Hypothesis tested using Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression in this research. The results indicate that the correlation between independent variables and dependent variable are correlated. Performance-based incentives emerged as the most influential facto